Rotary engine

ABSTRACT

A rotary engine having a housing with a spherical chamber, a spherical piston body supporting a shaft for rotation within the spherical chamber and having a circumferental vane track. A plurality of spaced angular vanes project from said housing into the vane track. A disc having angular slots spaced around its periphery is rotatably mounted transversely within the piston body and intercepting the vane track to permit interdigitation between corresponding vanes and vane slots to provide expansion and exhaust chambers successively between vanes on opposite sides of the disc, as fluid under pressure is introduced into the expanding chamber. This rotary engine is adapted to be driven by fluid under pressure, such as hydraulic fluid, and is reversible, depending upon which side of the disc the fluid enters. By driving the shaft, the engine functions as a fluid or hydraulic pump. By introducing combustible gasses into the expanding chamber and providing a spark plug, the device may function as a rotary internal combustion engine.

United States Patent [1 1 Babcock ROTARY ENGINE [75] inventor: Erlow T. Babcock, Santa Ana, Calif. [73] Assignee: Joseph T. Babcock, Nashville, Tenn.

[22] Filed: Apr. 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 350,164

[52] US. Cl 418/226, 123/8.0l, 123/849.

[51] Int. Cl. F0lc 1/00 [58] Field of Search 418/195, 209. 226. 270;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 120,411 10/1871 Atwood 418/226 1,037,655 9/1912 Peigler 418/146 Primary Examiner-C. J. Husar Assistant Examiner-Leonard Smith Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harrington A. Lackey [57] ABSTRACT A rotary engine having a housing with a spherical [451 Apr. 9, 1974 chamber, a spherical piston body supporting a shaft for rotation within the spherical chamber and having a circumferental vane track. A plurality of spaced angular vanes project from said housing into the vane track. A disc having angular slots spaced around its periphery is rotatably mounted transversely within the piston body and intercepting the vane track to permit interdigitation between corresponding vanes and vane slots to provide expansion and exhaust chambers successively between vanes on opposite sides of the disc, as fluid under pressure is introduced into the expanding chamber.

This rotary engine is adapted to be driven by fluid under pressure, such as hydraulic fluid, and is reversible, depending upon which side of the disc the fluid enters.

By driving the shaft, the engine functions as a fluid or dIQQl FP mPx By introducing combustible gasses into the expanding chamber and providing a spark plug, the device may function as a rotary internal combustion engine.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 9 I974 SHtEf l UF 2 ROTARY ENGINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to rotary engines, and more particularly to a reversible, rotary motor-pump handling fluids under pressure.

Rotary hydraulic motors, hydraulically driven rotary pumps and rotary internal combusion engines are generally known in the art.

The most pertinent prior art known to the applicant is US. Pat. No. 1,037,655 issued to C. T. Peigler on Sept. 3, I912, for Rotary Engine.

In the Peigler Patent, a generally toroidal shaped piston body supports a shaft journaled in a corresponding housing. The piston body also supports a plurality of circumferentially spaced rotatable discs, each disc having spaced angular slots about its periphery for cooperatively receiving, or interdigitating with, spiral vanes fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the chamber of the housing. The Piegler patent'also discloses means for sealing the periphery of the disc, the periphery of the vane slots,'and the spaces between the piston body and the housing. Thus, the effective sealing between the moving parts of the Peigler engine appear to be a matter of some concern.

Since the rotary discs project radially beyond the circumference of the toroidal piston body, the spiral vanes projecting from the inner walls of the housing, of neces- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a rotary engine including a housing and a rotary spherical piston body within the housing capable of producing continuously successive expansion and exhaust chambers, which will be more efficient and have better sealing qualities with less intricate structural design.

An engine made in accordance with this invention includes a housing having a spherical chamber within which is rotatably mounted a spherical piston body supporting a shaft, which in the case of a motor will be an output shaft, and in the case of a pump will be an input shaft. The spherical piston body is provided with a circular vane track around its mid-portion normal to the rotary axis and having a circular floor bounded by a pair of sidewalls forming circular planes normal to the rotary axis and terminating at the surface of the rotary body. Angular vanes spaced apart from each other depend from the inner wall of the housing and into the vane track, preferably so that the ends of the vanes slidably engage the sidewalls of the vane track. A circular disc is rotatably mounted within a corresponding slot formed transversely of the vane track within the spherical body and provided with angular vane slots in the periphery having the same angular disposition and spacing as the vanes for cooperatively receiving the vanes as the piston body rotates within the chamber. An inlet port and an outlet port are formed in the vane track on opposite sides of the disc slot for the passage of the appropriate work fluid, such as hydraulic fluid, pneumatic fluid, steam, or combustible gasses.

As the working fluid, such as hydraulic fluid, is intro duced into the inlet port, the fluid enters an expansible chamber formed by the adjacent fixed vane and the rotary disc. The expanding fluid drives the rotary disc, and consequently the piston body, away from the fixed vane to expand the chamber until the next adjacent vane passes through its corresponding vane slot in the disc and passes over the inlet port to trap the hydraulic fluid between the two vanes and to form another expansion chamber trailing the first expansion chamber. As successive expansion chambers are formed to drive piston body rotatably within the housing, the fluids trapped between the vanes are discharged through the discharge port on the opposite side of the disc, after one revolution of the piston body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the engine made in accordance with this invention, with a portion of the housing broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the engine with the bottom portion of the housing broken away;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2', with the housing shown in sectional elevation;

, FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary developed views illustrating sequential positions of the piston and disc relative to the vanes;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of an engine, modified for internal combustion, with a portion of the housing broken away;

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary developed views illustrating sequential positions of the piston and disc relative to the vanes of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 7, the engine 20 made in accordance with this invention includes a housing 21 having a substantially cylindrical chamber 22. Tightly, but slidably, fitted within the cylindrical chamber 22 is a substantially spherical solid piston body 23, although the piston body 23 might have other surfaces of revolution about its rotary axis, other than a sphere. Fixed to opposite ends of the .piston body 23 are stub shafts 24 journaled within the bearings 25 mounted within the housing 21.

Formed as circular recess around the middle portion of the piston body 23 is a vane track 27 defined by a circular floor 28 bounded by plane circular side walls 29 and 30, preferably perpendicular to the rotaryaxis of the shaft 24. The vane track 27 is the only portion of the'spherical body 23 which does not rotatably engage the wall of the chamber 22. However, the chamber wall 22 is spaced from the floor 28, and with the floor 28 and the side walls 29 and 30 forms a closed circular recess.

Mounted circumferentially around the housing 21 are a plurality of vane mounts 32 to the inner end of which are fixed vanes 33. The vane mounts 32 are shown inserted through spaced slots 34 within the housing wall 21 so that the vanes .33 are uniformly spaced from each other and disposed at uniform angles to the rotary axis. Moreover, each vane 33 is long enough and deep enough so that its bottom edge fits contiguously along the floor 28 and its ends fit contiguously against the side walls 29 and 30 for complete sealing engagement across the vane track 27. Of course, the vanes 33 may be mounted in any desired manner to the walls of the housing 21, so long as they are fixed to the housing 21 and disposed to transversely block the passage of fluid circumferentially around the vane track 27. I

A rotary disc 36 is rotatably mounted by a pin 37 within a circular slot 38 formed eccentrically within the piston body 23, as best disclosed in FIG. 4. The slot 38 is so formed that a portion of the disc 36 projecting from the slot 38 is flush withthe spherical surface of the piston body 23 and intercepts the vane track 27 at right angles to the circumferential rotary path of the vane track 27. Formed within the periphery of the disc 36 are a plurality of uniformly spaced, angular vane slots .40. Each vane slot 40 has substantially the same width, the same length, and is disposed at the same angle as, the vanes 33. Thus, as a particular vane slot 40 rotates across the vane track 27, it will align with and slide past a corresponding vane 33.

A fluid inlet pipe 42 is connected to a fluid passage 43 formed within the upper portion of the housing 21. The passage 43 connects to annular fluid passage 44, from which inlet fluid flows through an inlet passage 45 within the rotating piston body 23 man inlet port 46. In like manner, exhausted fluid is discharged through outlet port 48 and thence through fluid passage 49 in the rotating piston body 23 into the annular passage 50 formed within the bottom portion of the housing 21. From the annular passage 50, exhausted fluid is discharged through passage 51 and outlet pipe 52. The inlet pipe 42 and the outlet pipe 52 may be connected in a complete fluid circulating system, including a hydraulic pump and'a reservoir, not shown. The circulatory system may include reversing valves for directing the fluid in the opposite direction in order to drive the motor in the reverse direction, when desired.

In the operation of this invention as a hydraulic motor, hydraulic fluid is introduced through the inlet passage 42 and continues sequentially through the passages 43, 44, 45 and out through the inlet port. 46 in the vane track 27. With the elements in the relative positions disclosed in FIG. 5, as the hydraulic fluid under pressure enters the triangular area E defined by the stationary vane 33, the sidewall 30 of the vane track 27, and the rotary disc 36, the disc 36 is pushed toward the right, thereby carrying the piston body 23in the same direction, as indicated by the arrow. Since the vane 33 is stationary, it functions as a cam within the corresponding vane slot 40 to urge the disc 36 in the direction of the arrow (FIG.

As indicated in FIG. 6, the expansion area E is larger than it was in the position in FIG. 5 by virtue of the translatory movement of the disc 36 toward the right. As the disc 36 rotates in the direction of the arrow, the vane slot 40 intercepts or interdigitates with the vane 33.

In FIG. 7, the area E has almost reached its maximum volume. When the vane slot 40 has rotated in the direction of the arrow a sufficient amount in FIG. 7 to disengage from the vane 33, the inlet port 46 will have passed completely to the right of the vane 33, so that inlet fluid will no longer discharge into the space E. The fluid in the space E will then remain trapped between the vanes 33 and 33 within the vane track 27 until the piston 23 has made a complete revolution. When the disc 36 returns to its position in FIG. 5, after a complete revolution, the trapped fluid between the vanes 33 and 33 is discharged through the outlet port 48 and ultimately through the outlet pipe 52. In FIG. 6, the exhaustion of the fluid from the space between vanes 33 and 33 through the outlet port 48 has just been completed.

The formation of the vane track 27, particularly of rectangular cross section, permits a close sliding relationship between a simply formed rectangular, but angularly disposed, vane 33. The vane track 27 also permits the entire spherical piston body surface 23, except for the vane track, to snugly and slidably fit the complementary wall surface of the chamber 22 so that a minimum of sealing is required. Moreover, the recessed vane track 27 finitely limits the length of each vane 33 and permits all the free edges of the vane to have a snug fit with'the corresponding floor 28 and side walls 29 and 30 of the vane track to minimize fluid leakage.

Furthermore, by forming the vane slots 40 of the disc 36 substantially the same length as each vane 33, the vane slots 40 have a minimum exposure to receiving fluid. Even when fluid is trapped within the vane slots 40, the ends of the vane slots open into either the expanding or exhaust chamber, or are closed by the side walls of the circular recess 38 within which the disc 36 rotates. Moreover, as each vane slot 40 sliding past a vane 33 begins to leave the vane, its open end almost immediately is closed by the side wall of the disc recess 38.

It will be understood that where the engine 20 is employed as a hydraulic fluid pump, an external motor will be utilized to drive one of the stub shafts 24 in order to positively move the piston body 23. The relative movement ofthe piston body 23, rotary disc 36 and the vanes 33 remain the-same as they are when the device 20 functions as a motor, in order to force the circulation of the fluid as a pump.

Any hydraulic fluid which might become trapped within the vane slot 40 will be carried by the vane slot 40 into the circular disc slot 38 where the oil is discharged through one of the bleeder passages 53 (FIG. 3) to annular channel 44 or through bleeder passage 54 to the outlet channel 50.

' FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 disclose an engine modified to function as an internalcombustion engine. All of the elements in engine 60 are the same as those in the engine 20, except for the addition of spark plugs 62 mounted through openings 63 and in the housing wall to communicate with the vane track 27. In this modification, it is important to locate the inlet port 66 in such a position in the vane track 27 that it becomes closed by the next vane 33 before the combustion chamber.

The expanded burning gasses in the engine 60 are also trapped between the vanes 33 and 33 after the disc 36 moves to the position in FIG. 11. The trapped gasses are retained until the piston 23 makes one complete revolution to exhaust the gasses from the area D (FIG. 9), in the same manner as the fluids are exhausted from the engine 20.

It is also within the scope of this invention to employ two or more rotary discs to increase the number of expansion and exhaust chambers for each revolution of the rotary piston.

Both the engines and 60 have several decided advantages over other commercial engines. Both engines employ only two moving parts, mainly the piston body 23 and the rotary disc 36. Both engines develop nearly a constant power surge as a motor, and a steady even flow of liquid or air as a pump. Both engines develop maximum torque during power surges. Most importantly, there is a minimum loss of fluid with a minimum structural design, and particularly in view of the structure of the vane track 27 and the cooperating vanes 33.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary engine comprising:

a. a housing having a chamber,

b. a piston body within said chamber,

c. a shaft fixed to said body and journaled in said housing for rotary movement,

d. said body having a surface of revolution about the rotary axis of said shaft,

e. said chamber having a configuration complementary to the surface of said body for snugly receiving said body for rotation therein,

f. a circular vane track formed in the periphery of said body, coaxial with said rotary axis,

g. said vane track comprising a circular channelshaped recess in said body, having a floor spaced from said chamber and bounded by opposed sidewalls intercepting said body surface,

h. a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes fixed to and projecting from said housing into said vane track, each vane being disposed at a uniform angle to the rotary path of said vane track,

i. a circular slot in said body transverse to and opening into said vane track,

j. a disc having circumferentially spaced vane slots in the periphery of said disc and rotatably mounted within said circular slot to intercept said vane track, each vane slot being disposed at the same angle as each vane and adapted to slidably receive any vane,

k. The portion of the periphery of said disc passing through said vane track engaging the chamber wall,

1. an inlet fluid passage in said housing and an inlet port in said vane track on one side of saidcircular slot communicating with said inlet passage, and

m. an outlet fluid passage in said housing and an outlet port in said vane track on the opposite side of said circular slot from said inlet port communicating with said outlet passage.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said piston body is substantially spherical and said chamber is the same shape and size as said spherical body.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which each vane slot is substantially the same length as each vane.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which each of said inlet port and said outlet port are spaced from said circular slot a distance substantially less than the spacing between said vanes, so that each vane adjacent said disc on the same side as said inlet port comprises a combustion chamber, and the space between said disc and the adjacent vane on the same side as said outlet port comprises an exhaust chamber.

5. The invention according to claim 4 further comprising a spark plug mounted within said housing to ignite gasses within said combustion chamber, said inlet port being positioned to be closed by the next vane passing through said vane slot before the maximum volume of said combustion chamber is created by said corresponding vanes, said inlet passage and port being adapted to receive a flow of combustible gasses, and said outlet passage and port being adapted to exhaust the spent products of combustion.

6. The invention according to claim 1 in which said vanes project into said vane track and the ends of said vanes slidably engage the side walls of said vane track.

7. The invention according to claim 6 in which said side walls and the ends of said vanes are perpendicular to said rotary axis. 

1. A rotary engine comprising: a. a housing having a chamber, b. a piston body within said chamber, c. a shaft fixed to said body and journaled in said housing for rotary movement, d. said body having a surface of revolution about the rotary axis of said shaft, e. said chamber having a configuration complementary to the surface of said body for snugly receiving said body for rotation therein, f. a circular vane track formed in the periphery of said body, coaxial with said rotary axis, g. said vane track comprising a circular channel-shaped recess in said body, having a floor spaced from said chamber and bounded by opposed sidewalls intercepting said body surface, h. a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes fixed to and projecting from said housing into said vane track, each vane being disposed at a uniform angle to the rotary path of said vane track, i. a circular slot in said body transverse to and opening into said vane track, j. a disc having circumferentially spaced vane slots in the periphery of said disc and rotatably mounted within said circular slot to intercept said vane track, each vane slot being disposed at the same angle as each vane and adapted to slidably receive any vane, k. The portion of the periphery of said disc passing through said vane track engaging the chamber wall, l. an inlet fluid passage in said housing and an inlet port in said vane track on one side of said circular slot communicating with said inlet passage, and m. an outlet fluid passage in said housing and an outlet port in said vane track on the opposite side of said circular slot from said inlet port communicating with said outlet passage.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said piston body is substantially spherical and said chamber is the same shape and size as said spherical body.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 in which each vane slot is substantially the same length as each vane.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 in which each of said inlet port and said outlet port are spaced from said circular slot a distance substantially less than the spacing between said vanes, so that each vane adjacent said disc on the same side as said inlet port comprises a combustion chamber, and the space between said disc and the adjacent vane on the same side as said outlet port comprises an exhaust chamber.
 5. The invention according to claim 4 further comprising a spark plug mounted within said housing to ignite gasses within said combustion chamber, said inlet port being positioned to be closed by the next vane passing through said vane slot before the maximum volume of said combustion chamber is created by said corresponding vanes, said inlet passage and port being adapted to receive a flow of combustible gasses, and said outlet passage and port being adapted to exhaust the spent products of combustion.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 in which said vanes project into said vane track and the ends of said vanes slidably engage the side walls of said vane track.
 7. The invention according to claim 6 in which said side walls and the ends of said vanes are perpendicular to said rotary axis. 